Interview with Aleaha More

Aleaha More
2006 Miss Rodeo Canada
Interview with Pauline Briggs – October 23, 2014
Question: What can you tell me about yourself Aleaha?
My name is Aleaha More and I was Miss Rodeo Canada 2006. I grew up in Virden, Manitoba where I
experienced all facets of small town life, from spoken poetry, choir, and drama, to dance and
cheerleading, and of course to what held my heart most and still does, my horses and the sport of
rodeo. Secondary education took me to Medicine Hat where drama, dance and studying design theory
filled 3.5 years. The opportunity of representing the Medicine Hat Stampede as their Princess was both
an honor and busy year of meeting many good folk, which ultimately lead me to run for Miss Rodeo
Canada, and utilizing Calgary as a home base during that year. Since my year as MRC I have lived in
Moose Jaw, went back to my hometown during a transition period, travelled parts of Europe, and now
call Regina home. I’ve been working in graphic design and marketing for the past six years, while still
enjoying dance and training my two young horses.
Question: Do you have siblings?
I have one brother, Darren, who is three years older to the exact day. We joke that my Mom (Gwen)
planned it so that my Dad (Everett) only needed to remember one birthday. My brother and his wife
have an 8 year old son, and are expecting their second, a daughter, early 2015. I see a prospective Miss
Rodeo Canada title in her future!
Question: How did you get involved in the professional sport of rodeo today?
Would you believe my first show was at the age of
two! My parents entered me into a lead line class
when I was very young– they literally sat me on a
horse and lead me around the show ring. Somewhere
there is a video of me sliding off the pony because I
just really wasn’t sure what was going on. I was
probably four before I really knew what showing was
about. Eventually I grew into a fairly determined little
horse show girl.
At the age of three I received my first pony, “Frosty.”
Frosty was a tiny, patient pony. One thing that really
stood out with her is that she changed colors with the
seasons. She was black in the summer, white in the
winter, and brown in between. I have yet to come
across a horse that was coloured quite like she was.
She may have been a blue or bay roan of some sort – I always thought that it was pretty cool having a
horse of many colours! Eventually my parents traded Frosty for my next pony, Mindy, who took me
further into the show world, but wasn’t quite as patient. Her signature trait was lying down and rolling
in every single saddle class. I became very good at dismounting because of her!
I began showing welsh ponies and followed the show circuits in southern Manitoba when I was about
seven. I had three ponies by then and my Dad and I would haul them to shows all over Eastern
Manitoba. One was a wonderful little grey Arab/Welsh cross by the name of Kass. I rode this gelding in
the Manitoba Gymkhana Rodeo Association
participating in pleasure, reining, barrels and
poles. I was beginning to get bold during this time
and very competitive. The MGRA held approved
events that would follow the local horse shows,
which made it very convenient for the Manitoba
horse community to grow, strengthen skills and
create great friendships. I rode in the MGRA until
I graduated high school. You will be interested to
know that I stuck with that Arab/Welsh pony until
I was twelve! You see, I was a short little kid so I
could get away with riding ponies for a long time,
and even though he was short, he held his own
against the horses. The family that bought him
from us competed in High School Rodeo on him
and qualified for National Finals in poles. I’m
pretty proud of that pony and all the lessons I
learned on him and am happy he was able to
retire at my Dads farm. We laid him to rest on a
hill that overlooks the land.
I finally graduated to a quarter-horse,
“Shewstring”, and this was my gateway to competing in rodeos. What made Shewstring unique (Dec Em
Dan was his registered name) was that when he was a 2 year old he had broken his neck. As a result he
always had this cocked way of turning his head to look at you. It was especially noticeable when he was
in pasture; he wouldn’t turn his head fully like most horses do, it was more of a nose out and head
tilted. Keeping him well conditioned and emphasizing flexibility was very important to be as competitive
as we were. It was during this time that I learned the meaning of, and appreciation of, a rodeo athlete.
Shewstring was wonderful. He is the horse that took me into high school rodeo, and then on to
compete in college rodeo. He carried me to the National High School Rodeo Finals twice and Canadian
College Rodeo Finals three times with his huge heart, enthusiastic spirit and a reputation of power.
My very first Canadian High School Rodeo Finals, held in Ponoka that year, I qualified in pole bending. It
was also my first really big travelling adventure with my horses. I had traveled all over Manitoba, but
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qualifying for Canadian finals was a big deal to me. I had just received my driver’s license so my dad and
I traded off driving. This trip is also my very first experience having a run in with wild life on the highway.
Thankfully it was only a badger and not something much larger, so the truck and trailer thumped over it
fairly easily. It was dark and my Dad was sleeping at the time, being my first time hitting anything I was
quite shocked!
I rode Shewstring for the rest of my high competition years, the most memorable being our
qualifications to the National High School Rodeo Finals. My first year I was juggling both the queen
pageant, as I was Manitoba High School Rodeo Queen, as well as competing in barrels and poles. There
was myself and only one other queen contestant doing both sides of competitions, it didn’t happen
often back in those days. On our last trip to National High School Rodeo Finals I learned a valuable
lesson that things don’t always go as planned. Luck wasn’t on our side, but the feeling of running in front
of such a large crowd, especially at night under the lights, is an amazing thrill I’ll never forget.
Question: I understand you made it Nationals in High School rodeo. That is quite an accomplishment.
How was it to compete at the National Finals Rodeo?
I qualified twice for NHSRF, both years in Springfield, Illinois. My first year I competed in the queen
contest, barrels and poles. In my second year I competed in
barrels.
I was very focused that second year and put all of my energy
into being as competitive as possible. I had prepared myself and
my horse (with the help of my father and mentor, Rick White)
to be at the top of our game. My goal was to make it to the
short go in barrel racing. After my first run, I actually had a shot
at succeeding! My second run started flawlessly. I nailed the
first barrel, and then Shewstring ducked in and turned right –
just before the second barrel. I was shocked! We made a
mistake we had never made before – just out of the blue – I
was baffled! I was heart-broke, mad, sad, in disbelief, and
disappointed. There were so many emotions! I rode my horse
back to the barn, trying to conceal my tears in front of whoever
was passing, while my Dad was giving me a positive pep talk.
Then up walked these 2 young girls about ages 8 or 9. They asked if the previous year I was Miss
Manitoba. I replied “yes,” and they go on to tell me of when they met me a year ago and got my
autograph – which was still on their walls – and how they recognized me this year and were cheering for
me! It was a very, very humbling moment. My mind switched from negativity and self-disappointment
to gratefulness and appreciation because of the positivity these girls had. I was just so surprised that
they remembered me! It hit me that even if the path to my goals is slow and contains detours, it isn't
reflective of self-success. I contain the ability to make an impact on someone else, and that's a pretty
darn good feeling. Making a difference in other people’s lives is definitely a “win” in my books. I don't
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know who those little girls were, but in that brief moment they made quite a difference in my life and
how I continue to absorb the “not so successful” times.
Question: Did you belong to any riding clubs prior to becoming Miss Rodeo Canada?
From a young age I was a part of the “Virden Riding Club.” It was an "all age" club that held meetings,
trail rides, a spring gymkhana event and a summer MGRA approved show. Usually we would get
together once a week and do different equine activities. Often times the events were of a social nature,
held just so horse lovers could spend some time with others who had similar interests and learn off each
other, but there were times that organized lessons and clinics by local accomplished horse people were
held. These were some of the first structured lessons I took, and lead to me being coached on a regular
basis by Gail McQuaker, who is a renowned lady in the English disciplines. I also belonged to the “Virden
4-H Light Horse and Pony Club”, which wasn’t established until I was in High School. The first year I was
the club reporter and 3 years I held the President position.
Question: What previous titles did you hold before running for Miss Rodeo Canada?
I held a few titles. I was the Manitoba High School Rodeo Princess (1998/1999). I was the Manitoba
High School Rodeo Queen the following year (2000/01). I became the Manitoba Rodeo Cowboys
Association Princes in 2002. I won the Virden Indoor Rodeo Queen title in 2003. I was the Medicine Hat
Stampede Princess in 2004 and then won with the Miss Rodeo Canada title in 2006.
Question: Have you ever won any awards/accomplishments?
Aside from royalty titles, I was pretty competitive in the horse showing world. In 1993-96, I was at the
peak of my younger competition days with my pony
Kass. I won Hi- Point Pee- Wee as well as many
different awards throughout those seasons.
In high school rodeo, although aiming for an all-around
cowgirl award or champion in an event, it never came
my way, but I did win reserve champion in barrels and
poles. So close! There were some excellent riders and
talented horses that I had the pleasure to compete
against and it’s exciting to see where those girls have
made it to today.
The one year I was able to college rodeo, I finished in
5th place overall. The difference in the level of
competition between Alberta and Manitoba was quite
significant back then, many of the girls I competed
against went on to pro-circuit careers, so I was ecstatic
just to end up in the money against them.
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Question: How did you get interested in becoming Miss Rodeo Canada?
We only have one pro-rodeo in Manitoba, so the exposure is not large for a pro rodeo ambassador. It
wasn’t until I moved to Alberta
and was surrounded by pro
rodeos that I was introduced to
the Miss Rodeo Canada
organization. It began when I
was attending Medicine Hat
College in 2002. Through college
rodeo and barrel racing jackpots,
I learned about the Medicine Hat
Stampede holding a queen
contest. At the end of my year as
the MHS Princess, the queen
Sara (Davies) Ibboston, turned
down the opportunity to
compete in the MRC pageant,
which allowed me the chance to
go. With the support and encouragement from my family, and my continuing interest in pageants, I
knew there was no turning away from such an open door.
Question: Why did you choose Miss Rodeo Canada over the Calgary Stampede Queen?
It crossed my mind to enter the Calgary Stampede pageant, but one of the reasons I did not compete for
that title was due to one of their requirements was to live in/near Calgary, and Medicine Hat was just
too far away. I was in the midst of my college studies and did not want to put that on hold, or transfer to
another program. However, after becoming MHS Princess and learning more about the differences
between the Calgary Royalty and Miss Rodeo Canada, I felt MRC was more my style of ambassador.
Question: Did Miss Rodeo Canada have Princesses in your year?
No, I did not have a princess my year. There was just the queen.
Question: Can you tell me about your pageant experience?
It was a whirlwind! It was fantastic! There were seven girls competing my year. The year prior also had
an odd number of girls. Meaning three girls roomed together throughout the pageant – which can be
difficult. My year, the organization decided they would put two girls per room and the “odd man out”
would have their own room. By luck of the draw I was chosen! However, I learned that it came with
some ups and downs. The down side was that I missed out on the bonding experience of having a
roommate. The up side was that I had all the space I wanted, and since I’m a bit more of an introvert; it
was nice to have some quietness after a crazy day.
I remember it being very busy during the week of the competition. I was up at 5 or 6 in the morning and
would crawl back into bed at about midnight – after a jam packed day. We toured a lot! We went to
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radio stations, banks, sponsor visits, hospitals, and charity related things to name a few. We reached
out to a lot of people – one of the purposes of being Miss Rodeo Canada is to promote the sport – there
isn’t one place we didn’t go! They had us in pretty much every venue and environment they could get
us in – businesses to social gatherings. We were everywhere! It was a great group of girls – we got along
very well.
A little secret I have from my pageant experience. I cried during one of the opening ceremonies! It may
not seem like a crazy bit of info, but I'm not a softy like that, I never cry. For me to shed a tear, especially
in public is a very rare anomaly, but the emotion and atmosphere just got to me. They were paying
tribute to a youngster who had passed away by letting a colt loose in the arena. He ran around calling
out for a short time and then a small herd of horses were let in the arena for the colt to join and run
with. I have a cousin who passed away at a young age and I think it just resonated with me so much
more due to that. Opening ceremonies of the CFR are always so amazing! They are filled with such
excitement and energy. I still love watching them.
Question: What can you tell me about the judges?
The personality judges were with us all day for the duration of the pageant. They got to know us very
well and ask us all sorts of questions. They got a very good feel of who we are as we were put in wide
variety of places and situations. We also had different judges for horsemanship, modeling, interview,
and speeches, 3 judges for each component.
Question: Was having judges follow you around a good or bad thing?
It was pretty easy for some girls to put on a personality when they need to – so I liked having judges
with us at all times. It
is not until you spend a
lot of time being
surrounded by high
profile events of all
types, and when the
stress starts to come,
that true personalities
emerge. It is a pretty
important aspect to
becoming Miss Rodeo
Canada. You are taken
everywhere, fulfilling
long days, with
different people, and in
different crowds. It
takes a certain kind of
girl to handle that
gracefully.
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Question: Who was running the Miss Rodeo Canada organization your year?
The president was Rennie Riedy my year. A handful of ladies were on the Board. Tammy Kneller was
the MRC Coordinator. She did the bookings and helped me out with advice and tidbits of info about
where I was headed to, and I lived with her in Calgary during my reign. She opened her house to me
(and Christa Lawrence the year previous) and was so supportive. She was a great person to have by
your side during the year and definitely added a ton of fun as well.
Question: For public speaking - what was your speech about?
My speech was about success and the examples I have had through life events, the lessons that were
learned and people who have influenced me. I once heard a speech given in Medicine Hat during a
recognition tribute to Laurie Sharland, who was a vital lady in the early days of Miss Rodeo Canada and
then continued on as a strong lead and volunteer support of the Medicine Hat royalty. During this
tribute, a poem by Robert Louis Stevenson titled “Success” was read out, and the moment I heard it I
had a ‘ah-ha’ moment. The opening of my MRC speech was this poem, which is quoted below, and I’ve
continued to live my life since with this as my credo.
Were there restrictions on the type of speech you could
give?
No, there were no restrictions on what we could talk about.
They did ask us to steer away from topics of a sexual nature,
religion and politics. It was wide open, otherwise.
Question: On Horsemanship – whose horse did you ride?
We rode the grand entry horses during our presentation
rides at the rodeo. For horsemanship we used 4-H horses
brought in by a group from outside of Edmonton. It wasn’t a
consistent group of horses. Some were great, others weren’t
as much. Depending on the luck of the draw you might have
got an easy mount or a more challenging one. I remember
my pattern in the reigning portion – I had a horse that
reminded me of a Norwegian Fjord. It wasn’t really, but it
sure looked and moved like one! I made it through, missed a
lead but did the best I could. It may not have been a flawless
attempt, but that’s when you have to cowgirl up and do the best you can and hope the judges recognize
your riding ability and not look for just a pretty seat. Although being graceful on a challenging horse is
important, if you can demonstrate how to handle that horse, certain judges will notice it. The good
thing about getting on unknown horses is that it prepares you for the Miss Rodeo Canada role. As MRC
you never know what you will get – it could be something young with kinks still in it – which did
happened to me a few times. You have to know how to handle it and ride it.
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Question: The Miss Rodeo Canada pageant will ask you to do Impromptus – where did you do these?
Every day – all day – maybe twice a day – at any place throughout the day! Sometimes we were asked
as soon as we sat down to eat breakfast or just before we headed up to our rooms at night, other times
it was in transit between venues or while we were at an appearance. Impromptu questions were done
absolutely everywhere; some were just around the contestants and judges, some in public places. You
never knew when they were coming or what you would be asked, and that was the point of it.
Question: Were there any contracts to sign as Miss Rodeo Canada? What were some of the rules?
There was a contract. I remember reading the whole thing. It was a typical rodeo queen contract with
the do’s and don’ts. It set out what was expected of you and there were a lot of terms and conditions.
It was not the first contract I had signed. I had to sign one when I was Medicine Hat Stampede Princess.
As I was familiar with pageants and the rodeo queen role, I knew what to expect – there were no
surprises.
Question: Were there any rules you would have changed?
One of the requirements was that you were to be seen in hat and banner at all events as well as on
route to and from. Most people who wear cowboy hats know that it is really annoying to wear one when
driving or sitting on a plane because the back of the brim hits the seat. The dress code was also a little
more structured than it is now, which eliminated the opportunity to incorporate some pretty cool
fashionable western trends. Although some of the outfits I see queens wear now aren’t quite what I
believe they should be for someone in a high profile role, it’s nice to see the dress code is changing and
adapting to be more fashion forward. This is just my opinion and one of the great things about each new
MRC, every girl has a different idea of what the role should be and should look like, making every queen
very unique. Miss Rodeo Canada is not a cookie cutter rodeo queen and that is a great trait of the
program.
Question: What can you tell me about your wardrobe?
You had to wear proper western attire – boots, hat, crown and banner must be worn at all events. My
Mother made the vast majority of my shirts and all of my dresses. There are some amazing sponsors
who support Miss Rodeo Canada and outfitted me with jeans, shirts, jackets, boots, jewelry, belts,
luggage, and everything! One of my favourite items was a pair of vintage high heel cowboy boots my
Mom had come across years before hand, I still wear them all time and constantly am in search of other
pairs similar. If they ever wreck, I don’t know what I would do!
Question: Where was your fashion show?
We had our fashion show at West Edmonton Mall – at the CFCW stage. CFCW was a huge, huge
supporter of the contest and of Miss Rodeo Canada herself. All the contestants modeled a more casual
jeans and button up shirt outfit that was sponsored by Wrangler, and then a dressier outfit of their
choosing. The dress I chose was one made by my Mom, a Victorian style velvet dark brown jacket, fitted
with lace up gathers at the back waist. It had a sweetheart neckline which was edged with a narrow
ruffle that matched the skirt fabric. The skirt was fashioned after a Century English riding skirt.
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Brett Kissell was at the fashion show [see
picture left – Kissell, More, Hooper, Rae]. He
was part of the entertainment show. He had
been a supporter of the pageant for about 10
years at that time. He knew a lot of people
from the Miss Rodeo Canada organization. He
was so sweet and had such a passion for rodeo
and the western way of life. Most of the songs
he sang were the classic good old tunes that
my parent listened to “back in the day.”
Question: Are you still friends or in contact
with any of the contestants who ran your
year?
Not really, but I do follow some on Facebook. What is interesting is one girl who ran for MRC the year
before I did, as well as one girl who ran with me, were girls I had met and competed with at the High
School Nationals pageant. Christa Lawrence, MRC 2005, is still a good friend and we try to connect and
catch up when we can. It’s a small “queen” world!
Question: What can you tell me about your clothes?
Deciding to run for Miss Rodeo Canada definitely called for a new wardrobe. My mother is an excellent
seamstress and had made my clothing in previous rodeo queen roles so luckily she was up for this task.
The fantastic thing about this is that we were able to design items that fit my personality – which
reflected my tastes and style, and that also complimented wearing a banner. That was one of my
sticklers, a banner covers up some really great details on outfits and being able to design some tops that
work with a banner I feel gives a more refined, polished look. She is such an amazing and talented lady,
and so resourceful. We would go to every city and town we knew, prepping from spring until November.
We hit all the Value Village’s, Salvation Army’s and any second hand store we came across to search for
leather and suede jackets or skirts to use as fringe or trim. At that time there were lots of great pieces
that could be up-cycled or restructured. I don’t know how many crystals we bought from craft stores,
and the hours of searching for the right texture, print or weight of fabric for construction or matching
was endless. I’m sure my Mom was known by first name at Fabricland! She did designing, sewing,
stitching, both hand and machine embroidering, and of course a lot of trial and error to find the best
method of attaching rhinestones.
Question: Do you still have any clothes?
Yes, all of them. They are sentimental keepsakes, but I do lend them out. I feel that if I ever get back to
competing, which is a plan I’m working on, I would wear them again.
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Question: Did you have a special dress?
I don’t know if I had that one special dress. One shirt my Mom made has Miss Rodeo Canada stitched on
the sleeve. This one I’m attached to more than the others. For dresses I had 3 or 4 that I wore
throughout my year that are all very different from each other and not the typical elaborate leather
rodeo queen dresses you often see. I had the ability to
put so much of myself into all of my clothes, so they
were all special. When making my dresses, my Mom
kept in mind that if they were top/skirt combos I could
mix and match with pants or different tops, which would
make my wardrobe go even further. A couple of these
that stand out in my mind; a brown and cream zebra
print business style straight skirt and blazer; a white skirt
with a top that had a stand up collar, there were metallic
maple leafs, with bronze and gold placed all over it; my
black and blue fringe skirt with a matching vest, and of
course the brown outfit I modeled during the pageant. I
had a lot of really nice stuff. We put so much work into
them together. My mom and I had such great bonding
moments, and some interesting difference of opinions,
designing and creating my outfits.
Question: How did you feel when you won the Miss
Rodeo Canada title?
I remember being shocked. I remember the exact moment. We were all sitting on the horses under the
stands, as we had just finished our introduction laps and were waiting for the big announcement. When
they announced the winner we were to ride out into the middle of the arena, get off our horse, accept
the crown, banner and take photos with dignitaries, then climb onto another horse that was tacked up
with the new Miss Rodeo Canada saddle, and do a victory lap on the way out. That was the plan. Well,
we were all sitting under the bleachers, and I was thinking I did fairly well – I was confident in what I had
done. I knew I botched a couple things, but was overall happy with my efforts. It was a pretty
competitive group of girls and you just never really know how things will turn out. They announced the
runner up – “Jenny Malin” from Okotoks. I was really excited for her as she had done a great, consistent
job.
I was picking at my fingers nails, because I have this bad habit of biting my nails – and then they called
my name. I sat there like a deer in headlights, I couldn’t comprehend what had just happened! The girls
are yelling “Aleaha, you won! Go – Go!”, I remember the look on Tammy’s face. So I went in, forgetting
everything I was supposed to do, again the stunned deer in headlights. Eventually I rode up to Christa –
and gave her a big hug. In fact I probably jumped into her arms I was so happy. There were some
dignitaries in the arena. Ralph Klein, Donnie Johanson was there for Montana Silversmiths. There was a
wrangler representative and another lady from the Ministry. It was a purely joyous moment. Seeing my
parents afterwards is when it really sunk in. It wasn’t just me winning the title, it was my family winning
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it. They had contributed and supported and sacrificed to
help me achieve this goal of mine, and we did it.
Question: Tell me about your saddle you won as Miss
Rodeo Canada 2006.
It is an amazing saddle, it fit every single horse I put it on
and I packed that thing everywhere I went in Canada. We
even boxed it up and shipped it to BC for the Cloverdale
Rodeo. Right now it is sitting in my studio room with some
other rodeo queen memorabilia and horse show awards.
Question: What were your duties once you won the title?
My first appearance after CFR was Agribition in Regina. I spent most of that time with the Toyota
dealership in their booth. You see, in 2006 there was a switch between vehicle sponsors for the Miss
Rodeo Canada organization. For a while there was a question on whether Miss Rodeo Canada would
have a vehicle to use as Dodge had done some cutbacks in their sponsorship, which included the MRC
vehicle. The Miss Rodeo Canada organization explored other options – and Toyota stepped up without
hesitation. Miss Rodeo Canada was to be given a fully equipped decked out Tacoma. At least that was
the plan. So when I went to Agribition I spent some time at the Toyota booth. However, not long into
my reign things got fairly political. As rodeo folk know, Dodge is the major sponsor of the Canadian Pro
Rodeo Association and Miss Rodeo Canada was an ambassador for the CPRA and fell under their
umbrella, therefore was told a sponsorship from a competitor was not acceptable. So the Toyota deal
unfortunately fell through and the MRC
organization was not sponsored a vehicle.
I drove my own car, a 3 door Saturn SC1 coupe,
throughout the year and put on about 40-50
thousand kilometers. All the Miss Rodeo Canada
ladies put on a lot of miles. My Dad paid for it to be
decaled with my name and title, and it ended up
being a great, reliable little car to get me all over
the country. I was disappointed I did not get the use
of a Toyota truck, but sometimes that’s just how
the cookie crumbles.
Question: Did you attend the NFR? What events did you participate in at the NFR?
Yes, I did attend the NFR. Tammy Kneller was my partner in crime down there. I had never been to Las
Vegas. It was very exciting! Tammy and I got along great – she was like a big sister to me. I met so
many incredible people, rubbed shoulders with all the great cowboys and cowgirls, and met many more
of my sponsors. The crowd that comes to watch that rodeo is phenomenal. Some do it every year – for
over 20 years! I did probably 10-12 scheduled autograph signings at various locations, Cowboy
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Christmas, and western stores throughout Las Vegas that were affiliated with the NFR. It is surreal and
made me feel a little bit like a celebrity.
I have a funny story about my travels to and at the NFR. Carlson Wagonlit Travel were an Alberta travel
agent and a sponsored MRC’s flights and hotel. It’s a husband/wife team that were such a great couple,
who would arrange for busloads of people from Canada and take them down to the NFR every year. I
rode on the busses to and from the hotel to the Thomas & Mac arena, and had the opportunity to speak
to everyone during the drive. Every night I would tell a bit about my day, ask what activities they had
partaken in, and then because traffic would sometimes take a little long, I started telling jokes (I’m not a
good joke teller). Eventually the bus rides turned into joke nights that everyone contributed to and it
was one of the highlights of getting to the NFR.
I remember one evening later in my
year at Strathmore rodeo, I was
walking through the stands and this
guy stops me and he says “Aleaha! –
I was on the bus with you going to
and from the NFR – I probably got
on your bus three times and it was
such a fun time! I’ve got a new joke
for you!”
Question: What can you tell me
about the horses at NFR?
I rode two horses at the NFR. The
first one was the one that Christa
rode the year before; he was great
nd
and knew his job. I had this one for a couple nights, but after the 2 or 3rd practice, Miss Rodeo America
was having trouble with her horse, he wouldn’t stand and was acting up, so we switched. I have always
gotten along with hotter horses, so the change worked out well for us.
Each grand entry at the NFR, the contestants would be called in on horseback by state, plus Canada, and
eventually they make a big horseshoe in the middle of the arena. Miss Rodeo America and Miss Rodeo
Canada would be called in, do a lap and then come sit in the middle of that big horseshoe. We would sit
in there while the announcers talked, and when we heard the cue it was our job to lead the all of the
contestants out. With that many people on horseback barreling down after us we had to be sure to get
all the way to the end as quick as we can, so we made a race out of it! I will never forget these NFR
grand entries. It was so amazing to sit centre dirt and look around you. You have the best cowboys and
cowgirls in the world in this massive arena – with a packed crowd shouting and screaming – I loved it.
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Question: What was the hairstyle of your year?
Oh my hair! Well, I have bone straight hair – so trying to get the perfect “queen curls” was a terrible
trial and error – mostly error – in my previous queening years. Because it was such hassle and frustrating
never accomplishing the curls, the Medicine Hat Queen and I decided we were going to buy wigs. Her
hair had always curled nicely but she eventually cut it short. We decided we didn’t want to worry about
the fuss of getting primped and ready, so wigs it was! During the Miss
Rodeo Canada pageant interview I was asked at
the end “is there anything else you want to
share?,” I told them I haven’t been completely
honest with them and need to confess my true
self… then I took my wig off. They burst out
laughing. No one had any idea and really just
couldn't believe I did that! [See photo left.]
I didn’t wear the wig for the rest of my reign,
however. Christa Lawrence, MRC 2005 showed
me the ropes of how easy it was to create the
“queen hair” and make the curls that were
popular. So I did my own hair the rest of the year
and carried on with the tradition.
Question – What was your style of hats?
I was awarded three top quality hats from our wonderful sponsor Biltmore. I had one of each – black,
tan and a silver belly hat. They were personalized for me and had printed my name and title inside each
of the hats. At the crowning reception Murray Scotton, from Biltmore, came to measure my head so he
can be sure they fit properly. He looks at me with a blank face and says “uh oh, we don’t make sizes this
small!” I was fortunate that they did customize 3 perfectly fitting hats for me.
Question: What crown did you wear?
I had a brand new crown my year. The one Christa Lawrence wore was getting old and falling apart –
they actually had to wire it together with a twist tie wire close to the very end of her year, as there was
no time to sodder it between events. It was replaced with the one I wore.
The crown I had was all silver with rubies – it had a big maple leaf right in the middle. When Tara
Sergerie was crowned MRC 07 they had that centre leaf gold plated. Maybe a year after that, they
added a bit more gold plating to the crown.
Question: Can you tell me about your fashion show pageant dress the year you passed on your
crown?
During the pageant of the year I passed on my crown there was a blue dress with silver stars and
shimmery sleeves that I wore, another creation from my Mom.
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Question: Describe your belt-buckle?
My belt buckle was made by Montana Silversmiths. My year they changed the design from the usual
elaborate scrolls and flowers you see on many Championship buckles to a more simplistic look. There
was a large red maple leaf with a gold crown placed on the center of it. The rest of the buckle was
etched roughed silver, some decorative scrolls, rubies on either side, and my name and title appearing in
gold. It was very different looking from the traditional buckles and a little difficult to match clothes as
the red was reasonably predominant. The roughed background also made it a bit challenging to clean,
but it’s one of my favorite buckles and I still wear it today.
Question: What other special events did you do then/now?
I go back to my home town rodeo every year – Virden Indoor Rodeo & Wild West Dayz. Virden is right
on highway #1 just across the Saskatchewan/Manitoba border. They actually still have a billboard up on
the high way on either side of the town and in the arena for every rodeo that says “Proud Home of
Aleaha More, Miss Rodeo Canada 2006!
Three years ago they began inviting me back to do taped
interviews for the rodeo. After each performance the winners
from each event will come and talk to me about their thoughts on
how they competed and I ask some personal interest questions as
well. That video is then played prior to the performance starting
the next night. My Dad is the current President and has always
had a very large hands-on involvement with everything from
organizing to planning the opening ceremonies, to hanging
sponsor banners in the arena, to putting together the weekend
program. He now adds the responsibilities that come with being
President. He is also one of two equine specialty veterinarians in
Virden so has his work truck on site in case he needs to fill that
role too!
My Mom organizes and runs the Virden Indoor Rodeo Queen
contest. With all her experience during my pageant years, she’s
put together an excellent contest for girls, where she focuses on
skill development and the learning experience. Every year during the rodeo kick off there is an outdoor
fashion show that is run in conjunction with the Human Chuckwagon Races. My Mom also organizes this
show, which features the queen contestants, past royalty, and some local ladies as well. Between all the
roles my parents fill, I will be there to do the odds and ends and last minute small jobs that pop up, I try
to help where I can along the way. The hometown rodeo has an amazing committee. It has won “rodeo
of the year” close to at least a dozen times now. They have one of the largest payouts in the association
and usually attract a handful of the pro-circuit competitors. The volunteers and committee put in a lot of
work and hours and do a truly amazing job. I’ve become very proud to call this my hometown rodeo.
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Question: Do you enjoy public speaking?
Yes, I love it. Since I was young I’ve always participated in the local town festival with poetry, choir,
drama and dance, and being in front of a crowd is something I’ve become comfortable with. I also really
enjoy writing, so preparing and presenting speeches is also fun for me. I unfortunately don’t have many
opportunities to do this anymore.
Question: Did you have sponsors during your reign?
There were a lot of great supporters wherever I went – whether it was a host family – or a contact
person or someone that was part of an event I was visiting. There were so many great people who were
pleased to have me and supported everything I needed. I don’t think I was a high maintenance girl, I
was and still am pretty independent and self-contained., but there were so many who stepped up and
sponsored me – jewelry, gift certificates, a meal, a car wash, an air conditioned place to sit amongst the
busy uber hot summer days, anything, just so many generous people wanted to support my journey. It
was such a humbling experience – learning the stories of all these people I everywhere I went, and how
grateful and excited they were to be a part of something. It always blew me away the selflessness of
those out there. Sponsors are so necessary. It’s hard to express how valued and appreciated they are.
Question: I understand that Christa Lawrence let you borrow her chaps. Why?
I did have chaps but because they are all custom-made there were not ready for me when I went to Las
Vegas, so Christa let me borrow hers. We were close enough in size that I was able to squeeze into
them. When I was crowned she let me use hers for the rest of the CFR and then take them to the NFR.
Christa’s chaps were very special to her as they were made by her aunt. I had to guard these things with
my life! The trade off for borrowing them was to get signatures on the back of them from some of the
pro rodeo cowboys down in Vegas. She said “whatever you do – make sure you get Eddie and Fred’s.”
Well, it took a couple days but I did it! I stole her idea and at the end of my reign I had all the
competitors at the finals along with rodeo personnel I had seen
throughout my year, sign the back of my chaps.
When I got back home, my personal set of chaps were ready
for me. They, too, were made by Christa’s aunt. They were
similar to Christa’s pair, in that they had the CPRA and bucking
horse emblem with the words “Miss Rodeo Canada” scrolled
above that. The leg was a dark tan color and the fringe was red
and silver. It was amazing how much pride I had every time I
wore them. They are such a great resemblance of the
connection between the CPRA and Miss Rodeo Canada.
Question: Who was a famous person you got to meet?
I met a few famous people. One was Stephen Harper who I
met at the Calgary Stampede at a pancake breakfast.
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I also met Toby Keith at the NFR at the Harrah’s hotel. He owned a bar in the hotel. One night I was at
the gift shop and some of the hotel managers spotted me. They told me if you show up on a certain
night and time, Keith will be there. He had his own lounge area and I sweet talked my way in. He didn’t
know who I was, but he signed me an autograph!
Paul Brandt was another big celebrity I met. I am a huge fan of his and met him a couple times.
I was probably the most excited to meet John Lyons. I grew up reading Horse and Rider and he had an
article in every issue. He was a large influence on me when I was young. I met him in Las Vegas at the
NFR as he was there doing horse training demo’s. I told Tammy (my chaperone) that if there is anything I
wanted to do here in Las Vegas ––it was to meet John Lyons. We went to one of his seminars and he
opened up the floor for the public to ask questions , I was able to chat with him and had a picture taken!
A few years later he was in Regina at Agribition doing a seminar, I printed off the picture of him and I
and went to his seminar where I got the opportunity to meet him again. He did sign the photo for me.
Question: What was your most memorable parade?
My favourite parade would have to be the Calgary Stampede parade for sure. It is hard to compete with
that one – downtown Calgary and all those people – just layers and layers of people waving and
cheering and so many “Yee Haws!” I remember
the clapping – it was so new to me. That
doesn’t happen in small town Manitoba
parades.
I also remember my arms were so tired from
waving the whole parade route! I had to keep
switching arms in order to make it through the
whole route. I rode one of Tara Sergerie’s
horses – a show horse of hers – a beautiful
sorrel with a white blaze – a sharp looking
gelding “Will” I believe was his name. He was so
well behaved and I’m pretty sure he soaked up
all the attention he was getting from the people.
Question: Did you compete or attend the Miss
Rodeo America pageant?
We are considered “sister” queens, so I didn’t
compete in it, but definitely attended as a
spectator to support. When I was at NFR we
went to their coronation and I watched their
whole song and dance, and it really is a song and
dance! They have a practiced routine that they perform together, it reminded me very much of a Miss
America pageant. They are so poised and perfect and their outfits were immaculate. Although we
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perform the same roles, our pageants are very different.
Question: Which pro-rodeo was your fondest and why?
There were so many great rodeos, I don’t know if I could pick one! British Columbia rodeos have a
certain “homey” feel to them. They make you feel like you’ve been old pals forever. Dawson Creek’s
rodeo had an amazing committee. Grande Prairie Stompede was also another fun rodeo. Armstrong’s
rodeo felt like they were family – they were very laid back and welcoming, and reminded me a lot of
Manitoba people.
More sentimental is the Morris, Manitoba rodeo. It is south of Winnipeg and the only pro rodeo in
Manitoba. I was invited out there and I was also the first Miss Rodeo Canada that visited them. It was
so much fun – they are a great group out there – it is a small town – down-home people – nothing false
or fancy – they took care of those who came to it – I spent a lot of time with them. I remember meeting
a couple from South Dakota that would drive up every year
and they would come just as spectators. After a so many years
they got to know the rodeo committee pretty well and were
given “honorary committee” status. It was really amazing to
see the rodeo committee recognize such dedicated and loving
supporters.
Question: Did you ever have to ride difficult horses?
Oh yes. I remember one horse at the Innisfail rodeo – a little
palomino that was four years old, sweet gelding but still
reasonably green and had been away from home maybe only
3 times. He was “iffy” on his leads and he liked to buck! I was
given a bit of warning that he has a tendency to buck but if he
had lots of time to warm him up would be ok. I gave him time
to work it out – and there was quite a while I was not sure
what direction it would go, the horse just wasn’t confident in
himself or experienced enough to handle the job. He had never carried a flag before, but with a little
work didn’t mind it. Things were good up until the grand entry was about to start so I gave him a shot –
he didn’t buck, but it wasn’t a respectable ride.
I returned the horse to the owner and apologized, I was very grateful they brought him for me to use,
but I couldn’t complete my job effectively and safely on him. I don’t like to turn down horses that are
volunteered, but sometimes this has to happen. A girl cannot represent herself and the Miss Rodeo
Canada organization well when she is too busy managing a green horse. At the start of my reign I was
told it was not worth it to get hurt – organizations are paying to bring me to their events and I have a job
to do, it’s my responsibility to make the call on if I’m able to carry out my responsibilities properly and
safely. Thankfully Wade and Gary Rempel are fantastic guys with excellent horses, and on a few
occasions would let me steal one.
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A very unique horse that I carried a flag on was at Cowgirl New Years in Surrey, BC. He was a giant
Clydesdale. There is an all female drill team that rides Clydes, and my involvement in this event was to
do a bit of a choreographed ride posting a flag. It was incredible just to sit atop a horse of that size,
never mind experience riding him at all gates. What a feeling to gallop on him!
Question: Who was your role model and why?
My parents obviously are very huge role models for me. I probably realized my appreciation for them
after I won the Miss Rodeo Canada title. That’s when my
maturity kicked in I guess! I realized just how much they had
influenced me with who they were; their work ethics,
creativity, resourcefulness, dedication, and attention to detail.
Everything about my parents makes them great people and I
recognize it so much more as an adult. I see a lot of them in
myself and have gained so much. Today, when I look back on
all their years parenting my brother and I, I am baffled by how
selfless they were for us and still have accomplished so much
of their own personal ambitions.
When I qualified for the National High School Rodeo Finals,
both my Mom, Dad and myself drove to Wyoming together – a
divorced couple spending all that time in the cab of a truck!?
They did it for me, and their efforts were my efforts, and we
were a team! I really admire them and they taught me a lot.
There was also another gentleman, Rick White, who helped me
in my early rodeo days. He showed me the ropes in barrel racing on a rodeo level and taught me how to
take care of high competitive horses. I learned how to condition horses and prepare for competition.
It’s a different mindset when you are competing. He trained horses and I worked as his groom and
helping hand one summer in high school.
One of the best summers I had was learning all I could from Rick. I worked on their farm, grooming
horses, mowing lawn and feeding – whatever jobs and chores that needed to be done, I did them. I had
my horse with me because they lived only twenty minutes from my home. I would tack up his horses
and take them to him so he could get more rode in a day, right after lunch I would tack up my horse and
ride with him, we would work on the things I needed to work on and then after the hour I would put my
horse away, and bring him another. It was a pretty good gig. I don’t think I realized at the time how
much help he was. It was great to learn about what it takes to build a horse as I had never trained one.
The ones I bought – they were broke when I got them – not seasoned and finished – but I never had to
do the basic training. He was such a good mentor for me and I still look up to him and his wife. They still
raise, train, and compete in the barrel racing association in Manitoba.
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Question: What was the hardest part of being Miss Rodeo Canada?
In all honesty – I would have to say giving it up (the Miss Rodeo Canada title) – when I had to pass on my
crown. That was THE hardest part! Being Miss Rodeo Canada was just a role I felt so comfortable in – I
don’t know if it was the people I met, or the travelling, or being a part of something I really loved doing
and being good at it. It was one of those things that fit with who I was and what I wanted to do with my
life at that time. I had found a new sense of confidence which I didn’t have before and I was just
comfortable in my own skin. My sense of independence grew. There were a lot of things you do as Miss
Rodeo Canada on your own so your independence, confidence, and self awareness skyrockets. I really
loved being Miss Rodeo Canada! I had one of the best times of my life – so it was hard having that all
come to an end. When you reach the top – there is nowhere else to go.
Growing up in your younger years, high school, college, you are always climbing the mountain and in
everything at life, your studies, your job or extra-curricular activities you are so used to having that
upward climb. But when you come to the point when you’ve reached the top – you never know what’s
on the other side – you never had to think about that – it’s a weird feeling to complete something for
the very first time and there being no continuation options. There is no “Miss Rodeo World”. After
MRC, I didn’t know what to do with myself! I had accomplished my goal, now what?!
Question: Do you compete in horse shows or barrel race anymore?
No I have not, but it’s something I’ve been trying to get back into. I’ve been training some horses since
my reign, but none of them have panned out to make it to the arena yet. When I was in high school I
was interested in the young horse
development program available through 4-H.
In this program you purchase a weanling from
a large group of breeders in the NAERIC PMU
program. You train it and show it as a yearling
with others who are in the program. To show
the colt you had to perform certain
techniques: lunging at all gates, loading and
unloading for example. These are
requirements for the colt to do. You also
maintained a record book of the colt’s
nutrition and exercises throughout the year.
Then again when the colt is a 2 year old, you
complete a ridden pattern.
The colt I had chosen I did really well with, I received top marks with him at the yearling presentation.
Unfortunately the winter I started riding him he became really sick and he died on me so I couldn’t finish
the program. Quite a few years later, after MRC, I bought a full sister to him. My previous colt was so
talented and a naturally willing horse that I was excited to try a full sibling. But I was in for a surprise
with this new filly – what a completely different horse! It was another learning experience for me. Since
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then I’ve been through a few young horses. I do want to go back to competing – that’s a future goal for
me – to get back into barrel racing. I am working with my six year old mare and a two year old filly
currently – so we will see what that brings! The two year old I bought through a sale in Manitoba called
Barrels of Cash. This is a speed and performance bred weanling sale and based around the concept of
coming back 5 years later to compete in a barrel jackpot against the other colts and fillies that were sold
in the same sale. So right now my goal is to prepare my filly with the intentions of competing with her
there as a 5 year old.
Question: Who did you pass your crown on to?
Tara Sergerie. She was the Airdrie Pro Rodeo Princess.
Question: What would people be surprised to know about you?
That would depend who you ask. The people who know me on the
“horse side” and “rodeo side” would be shocked to know that I am
a Latin dancer and I rarely leave the house without high heels on!
Those who see my “city girl” side would be surprised to know I’ve
been riding horses since I was young and I was Miss Rodeo Canada,
and that my cowboy boot selection is almost as large as my high
heel selection.
There are two sides to me that I think is a direct reflection of my
parents. My Dad, being the vet, rodeo committee man, and
purebred cattle breeder is a large influence on the passion I maintain for horses. My Mom displays a
very creative, artistic side. She has encouraged my involved in a variety of extra-curricular activities. I
had the best of both worlds!
When I was attending Medicine Hat College, both sides of my life were strengthened. I had my horses
boarded just outside the city and went to barrel racing jackpots. Living in the city allowed me to build
on the art programs, so I was able to grow that side of me too. It’s something I grew up with having
these two sides – I’m not going to move anywhere without my horses and dance will always be a part of
my life.
Question: Where would you like to see the Miss Rodeo Canada organization go in the future?
I haven’t been to any Miss Rodeo Canada pageants since the year after my reign. Through the alumni
and social media I’ve seen there have been a lot of changes. I noticed the identity (logo, and
relationship with pro-rodeo) has changed. I’m not too familiar how the program is structured now – so I
can’t comment on a direction I feel it should go. I do see the relationship with the CPRA is not as strong
as it used to be. I felt the value and importance of that partnership was so huge when I was Miss Rodeo
Canada, so I would like to see that regained.
I also noticed the girls are stepping up their game! The last queen [Nicole Briggs] had an awesome
roping exhibition run at Ponoka, that would never have happened back in my day. The fact that they
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were able to do that is pretty cool and shows Canadian rodeo queens can back up their skills and are not
just pretty faces.
I feel the similarities growing between the American and Canadian queen pageants. I’m not sure if that
is a bad thing – as a Miss Rodeo Canada you want to uphold a very prestigious image, yet we are all so
down to earth. From my experience it is hard to stand up to the American rodeo royalty image. The
costs are immense, everything that goes into just competing for a title. Some girls think, or just flat out
can’t, afford the expenses. So even though they may have the talent and skills to be an outstanding
representative, they choose not to run because of the high expectancies. In my day there wasn’t so
much pressure. I had clothes to be proud of, yes, but during my year a girl competing in a leather dress
had no more gain over a girl in jeans and a button up. As long as you look and conduct yourself
respectively and professionally, that was what was important. There was less focus on what your
appearance brought to the table, which I think is why there were more competitors back then – the
numbers seem to be dwindling. There are so many good opportunities but if new girls are intimidated
by costs and clothing, it will be hard to get them to run or convince them to run.
What would you change about the pageant if you could?
I am not sure how the pageant is run these days. So I can’t say what I would change – I don’t know
enough about it. I try to follow, but as I am living in Regina it’s hard to keep up to date other than what
gets posted on facebook. I always pay attention during the CFR to see who gets crowned. Now that the
Alumni are growing strong, I might get more involved from out here.
My mom and I get to the CFR every year as we have friends in Edmonton. We have been able to attend
the past few years, usually over the weekend we go to one of the rodeo performances. I have not made
it to the Miss Rodeo Canada events yet though.
Question: What are you doing now?
I graduated from Medicine Hat College with a Visual Communications Degree, which is focused on
graphic design. I worked in Moose Jaw, Virden and Regina for some time, and then found myself in
more of a media and public relations role after a few years in Regina, which lead me to a career jump to
Marketing. In July 2014, I started working with the Canadian Automobile Association, in the
Saskatchewan club. It is still new but I’m learning more about marketing and more of the strategy and
reporting.
Question: Did you ever mentor or teach others?
No. However, I used to teach Zumba fitness! There were a couple times I would go back to my home
town and I would hold small pageant clinics for local girls. It was nothing formal – some contestants and
other girls in the area who were interested in developing their social and queen skills. We would teach
them pointers on public speaking, modeling, how to talk with the public, etiquette, and prepping for a
contest.
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Question: Where were some the places you went as Miss Rodeo Canada – how many events did you
go to in 2006?
I traveled as far West as Vancouver and as far East as Morris, Manitoba. In the USA I traveled to Las
Vegas, Indianapolis, and New York. My total appearances were just about 600.
New York was likely the most unique, out of the
box event I went to. It was an initiative done by
Travel Alberta to promote a new direct flight,
flying from Calgary to New York. At the time we
went, there was an enormous travel trade show
happening, so in conjunction with attending that,
myself and a handful of other cowboys and
cowgirls, Jeremy Harden and the Lucas family
being amongst the group (coincidentally Katy
Lucas is the current MRC!), along with 20 hired
actors to dress as cowboys and cowgirls, walked
the streets of Manhattan promoting Canada and
Alberta. We did a couple TV Morning show
interviews, and news paper and radio interviews
as well. I was lucky enough to have a bit of spare
time and took advantage of that, visiting the
Empire State Building, The Museum of Natural
History, Ground Zero, and the historic Waldorf
Astoria hotel. When we entered the lobby of the
Waldorf, the door man struck up a friendly conversation with us as he was curious why and how we,
obviously out of place dressed in our western gear, ended up there. Once he learned who we were and
where we came from, he randomly offered to take us on a tour of the hotel. We were able to walk
through the Grand Ballroom, see the Royal Suit, where the Duke and Duchess of Windsor stayed; the
décor remained exactly the same all these years as it was specifically chosen by the couple.
Question: Are there any special things you have done since being Miss Rodeo Canada?
I traveled for 4 weeks to Europe – just myself and a friend. I had some free time so it just solidified that
we were going somewhere, and going big! We covered a lot of country and had some of the best times
of my life. It was an amazing discovery of the world and of myself. Traveling, and all the experiences
that come with it, of any sort, is something I feel so charged from, which I believe is partly why I loved
the role of Miss Rodeo Canada. Anything from a short trip to the next province to being surrounded by
a completely new culture is an amazing and inspiring experience. There's not much that can compare to
the feeling I get when I'm able to travel. People think I'm crazy but I love being in airports and flying!
One thing I know for certain... if you want a way to find yourself, go get lost on the other side of the
world!
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In December I joined a dog rescue charity as a foster home, so I now foster dogs that have come from all
types of situations, and help them become loving adoptable pets and find new homes. I've successfully
helped one puppy already and am currently fostering my second dog!
Robert Louis Stevenson quote that I based my speech on:
That Man is a success
Who has lived well,
laughed often and loved much;
Who has gained the respect of intelligent men
and the love of little children;
Who has filled his niche and accomplished his task;
Who has left the world better than he found it,
whether by an improved poppy, a perfect poem, or a rescued soul;
Who has never lacked appreciation of earth's beauty
or failed to express it;
Who has always looked for the best in others
and given them the best he had
Miss Rodeo Canada Website
Alumni
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